The iconic shoe designer Christian Louboutin celebrates 20 years of a career in shoe design. To mark this milestone Selfridges have dedicated a World of Louboutin concept space within the store, as well as series of windows. Both were designed and produced by London display design company StudioXAG.

The layout of each window celebrates a different shoe in the collection with an effective use of repetition, symmetry and a variation in scale of the 2D printed photoghraphs. The use of mirrors further enchances the repetitive element running through the scheme. The collage of all these elements makes a strong product promotion.

Temporary tattoo transfers are available in the concept store.

Moving graphics have been incorporated into the designs, which you can see by clicking here.

The concept store interiors are very much inspired by Louboutin boutiques including Hollywood style entrance archways, ‘wonder cabinets’ at the entrance and gold plinths with tops in Louboutin’s signiture red. The central focus of the space is the celebratory 20Ans tower, a bespoke acrylic and polished brass display for the limited edition capsule collection.

All photos courtesy of StudioXAG. Set up in 2009 by Xavier Sheriff & Gemma Ruse, StudioXAG specialises in art direction and display design for retail. Projects range from prop making and bespoke installations, to design and production of entire shop refits and nationwide window roll-outs. Their clients include Diesel, Fred Perry, London Graphic Centre & Christian Louboutin.

One of the biggest trends from the catwalk for this season was florals, and it shows in the windows around London. It is a trend that comes back year after year, but somehow this year it seems fresher than ever. Here I have a collection of images that shows just how boldly retailers have approached this trend.

Kate Spade, Sloane Square

Miss Selfridge, Oxford Street.

Zara, Oxford Street. Bright florals are very effective with the use of twinning with mannequins with similar outfits and poses.

Joseph, Fulham Road. I walk past this shop daily and I’m really liking their windows. In this one they’ve managed to put a lot of florals into the same window: full floral outfit, the vinyl on the glass and the background with printed roses. But it works and I can’t wait to see what Joseph do next in these windows!

H&M, Oxford Street

Stella McCartney, Fulham Road

Bershka, Oxford Street

Swimwear in contrasting brights meets pastel sets and mannequins in these Harvey Nichols’ 2012 resort windows. The painterly effect on the background creates a dreamy mood and I especially like the fluorescent lighting effects. The use of colour is the main talking point for me: purples and yellows create great contrast, whereas the pastels are calming and make the brights stand out.

Kaisa, your window blogger, bright colours and spring are back (at least if you look into these Harrods windows). Walking past Harrods windows right now doesn’t disappoint. They’re full of contrasting bright colour and high fashion.

Enjoy this kick-start to spring windows. More to come…

Harvey Nichols seems to have gone back to ice age with their 2011 Christmas windows. At first glance this series of windows reminds me of those of Harrods’ Crystal Christmas windows. The use of cheap materials such as cling film, bubble wrap and polystyrene proves otherwise. The look is very artistic and thrown together with an unfinished feel. With the current economic climate in mind, there is no better time to do a Christmas like this.

 Just so you know: some of the colours may be different in reality as white balance is an artistic decision says my Photoshop book!

Avatar?

I was seriously excited to find these, dare I say kinky, maids- windows. Miniature maid figures stand by loyally next to a LV classic bag, and life-size mannequin stands still holding a feather duster. These windows are visually fascinating, and are guaranteed to create a desire to buy!

Harvey Nichols never fail to surprise me with their imaginative displays. I couldn’t get my camera out quicker to capture these Dali-esque surreal windows. I find them hard to describe, they’re just plain crazy. So what I will do – I will let my photos do the talking.

This post looks at two things that I love: photography and visual display. I’ve always loved the 3 dimensional play between the backdrop, the oversized props, the mannequins, the text on the glass.. I find windows are often artistic and playful, where as a fashion photograph with a model gazing into the viewer’s eyes, can can stimulate a much more subtle yet a strong emotional message about the brand.

The advertising shots are usually the epitome of the marketing campaign so no wonder brands are using them in their windows. Large-scale photographs are most often used as backdrops, whether to set the scene with a location image or as a pure advertising shot.  During my window walks I discovered  innovative uses of merchandise and other elements in the windows that make the photographs seem a lot more three-dimensional.

I love the backlight behind the woman in the photo it really makes the photo come alive. Although I am not sure if the mannequin display is strong enough to compete with the background.

The advertising shots take centre stage in these two windows from Prada. The accessories featured in the shots are merchandised on the display bench. Very effective and commercial way to concentrate on the branding and ‘the’ -items.

The oversize lifestyle shot seems unrelated, but creates a mood for this window at Browns.

Alberta Ferretti. 

The beauty industry is all about branding and this window is very effective with a large black and white photo. The product itself is a minor detail.

In this Gucci-window you get a perfect illusion of a real staircase with part   photograph  and part build set.   

Perla printed their campaign photos on boxes, it makes the backdrop more interesting and three- dimensional.

Harvey Nichols are known to be creative  with their windows,  here they’re also using an image printed on different dimensions.  The photo is then dressed with jeans and accessories. Result is a fresh and funky window. 

Billionare are exhibiting their shoe range in classic frames, which almost says their products are art.

The New York metropolitan Museum are paying a tribute to british designer Alexander McQueen with exhibition titled ‘Savage Beauty’. It features creations from various collection down the years. Harvey Nichols were chosen to support the exhibition with their windows. The results are very simple yet effective placing all the attention on the garments themselves. The chosen mannequins are simply black and white, with strong poses. Simple white curtains hang as the back drops.

From the A/W 2008 collection The Girl Who Lived in a Tree.

“ Alexander McQueen was a creative genius, visionary and inspiration to the fashion world, and one who was, and still is, sorely missed. These windows provide us with an opportunity to salute both the man himself, and his spectacular body of work, which Sarah Burton continues to honour with her vision for the design house for the future. We shall miss Lee Alexander McQueen, but exhibitions such as these, help us to remember the sheer drama, masterful tailoring and tender, yet savage beauty the brand  unwaveringly represents to all who love it the world over” says Averyl Oates, the buying director for Harvey Nichols.

This dress and the piece underneath are both from the collection It’s Only A Game in  S/S 2005.

This gorgeaus gown is from the La Dame Bleue collection in S/S 2008.

This dress I love so much, it’s from a more recent S/S 2010 collection Platos’s Atlantis.

From the collection The Horne of Plenty A/W 2009.

The exhibition runs from 4th of May till the 7th of August 2011.